It’s a blessing to have one or more vast spaces in our homes, as this gives us a feeling of openness and luxury and allows us to fit a lot more into the rooms.
However, the downside of cavernous areas is that they can be tricky to design right, at times. Some people make common mistakes when decorating a large room that are much better avoided.
Not Creating Zones
One of the biggest errors homeowners and renters make when setting up an ample space is not creating zones. It’s important to delineate different areas of a large room to different functions so that it feels more snug and cozy. These zones should relate to each other and blend nicely, though, so that all the different spaces flow well.
When decorating a large living room, for instance, you might designate part of the area for watching TV or other media, another for playing board or card games, and have an area to read comfortably. Plus, you may want a good spot to converse with others and to add a bar or drinks area or somewhere light and sunny to read the paper and enjoy a coffee or have a quick meal.
Failing to Consider Scale
Another common mistake is failing to consider scale when decorating vast rooms. You need to choose appropriate pieces for these big spaces so that the furnishings and other décor don’t look too small and silly. For example, if the room you’re designing is long and wide, it’s best to avoid low goods that sit close to the ground, as they will seem lost in the space and appear smaller. It’s better, instead, to choose higher-set pieces with better scale.
If you’re choosing light fixtures for a big area, ensure they’re suitably scaled, too, rather than anything too tiny or delicate that will seem too limited, unless you use a row of multiple products along a ceiling. The same goes for artworks or sculptures, as well as ceiling fans. In an expansive part of your home, you’ll want to purchase large ceiling fans that not only look right, scale-wise, but are also significant enough to give you the airflow you need to keep the room comfortable.
Having No Focal Point
Don’t make the error that so many others do when designing big rooms and forget to pinpoint a focal point for the area. While a focal point is essential in all rooms, really, in cavernous ones, this is even more critical. It will anchor the room by drawing the eye and help to bring a design together and keep everything looking nicely cohesive.
For instance, you might use a stunning grand piano to draw attention, choose an epic piece of art, hang an antique rug on the wall, or use a huge rug on the floor as a centerpiece. Alternatively, get some big built-in bookcases put in the room to take up one wall and act as a feature, or select a long, sectional L-shaped lounge to act as the space’s anchor.
Placing Furniture Along Walls
Placing furniture along the walls of a great big room is also a no-no. The reason for avoiding this setup is that it can make the space seem even roomier. While this design choice works in compact spaces, in large rooms, it can feel awkward, and if people are trying to communicate from different pieces of furniture, they’ll feel like they have to shout to be heard.
It works much better to move items closer together and keep them away from the walls. Pieces should be within approximately three feet of each other to avoid letting the space feel too sterile and uninviting, as well as inadequately furnished.
Avoid all these mistakes when decorating the vast spaces in your home, and you’ll find everything looks and feels much better. In addition, be wary of not being bold enough in your choices, not using enough architectural features, colors, patterns, or textures, and leaving too much dead space in the room without any adornment.
While you do need to be considered in how you style this kind of area, it is fun to have so much room to play with. As such, enjoy the opportunity to try new things that you might not have been able to do in smaller rooms in the past.
